Fantastic Four

The First Family of science and superpowers faces an alien invasion alongside Spider-Man.

The Fantastic Four are a team of scientific explorers turned superheroes who operate from the Baxter Building in New York City. During the events of this story, Reed and Sue are on vacation with their children when the H'Mojen invasion begins. Spider-Man, who discovers the invasion, teams up with the remaining members to warn them and fight back. The series shows the Fantastic Four working alongside Spider-Man to stop the alien Imperator from assimilating Earth's population.

Quick Facts

Leader: Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic)

Lore & Background

The Fantastic Four's origin stems from a space mission exposed to cosmic rays, granting each member unique abilities. In the 2007 limited series Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four, written by Jeff Parker and illustrated by Mike Wieringo, the team is split when the H'Mojen invasion begins. Reed and Sue are on vacation with their children Franklin and Valeria, leaving Johnny and Ben in New York. Spider-Man, after encountering the Impossible Man disguised as the Silver Surfer, brings news of the alien mothership that has landed in Central Park.

The Imperator announces Earth will be the 13,742nd planet to be "H'Mojenized." When the team regroups, Reed deduces that individuals with DNA sufficiently different from base humanity—such as superhumans—are not affected by the merging process. This includes Franklin, Valeria, and Alicia Masters. The team splits up to find answers, visiting locations like the Sanctum Sanctorum (where Doctor Strange and Wong have been merged) and Mount Wundagore.

Eventually, they seek aid from Doctor Doom in Latveria, who helps create a device to prevent the merging. The story concludes with the Imperator absorbing the Poppupian race and taking them to an uninhabited planet to merge with the H'Mojen.

Reader's Guide

In the 2007 limited series Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four, the team's dynamic is tested by the H'Mojen invasion. The Imperator's mothership lands in Central Park, and his repulsor rays leave Spider-Man unconscious and seemingly destroy the Impossible Man. The next morning, Spider-Man limps to the Baxter Building to inform the Human Torch and the Thing. Reed and Sue are called back from vacation.

The team discovers that the merging process does not work on those with sufficiently different DNA, including superhumans like Franklin, Valeria, and Alicia Masters. A TV broadcast reveals that assimilated heroes like Captain America and Iron Man are subduing non-assimilated ones like Ms. Marvel and Luke Cage. The team splits up: Johnny and Spider-Man visit the Sanctum Sanctorum (finding Doctor Strange merged and only able to perform card tricks), while Sue and Ben try to stall the Imperator.

Reed runs simulations but cannot reverse the merge without killing both entities. He leaves in an experimental shuttle to study other merged galaxies, naming Spider-Man as his replacement. The remaining Four then seek aid from Doctor Doom in Latveria, who creates a device to prevent merging. The climax occurs in the African Serengeti, where Spider-Man vomits up the entire Poppupian race (rebuilt from a single cell inside him).

Reed returns from space, disrupting the Imperator's time/space technology. The Imperator absorbs the Poppupians into his ship and takes them to an uninhabited planet to merge with the H'Mojen, pleasing both races. Back on Earth, a cat hacks up a piece of green glop that pops up into the Impossible Man.